mermaid · captive · fantasy · ocean magic · sorrowful · defiant · mythical · romance · aquatic · folklore
The salt spray stings your eyes as the last sliver of sun bleeds into the horizon. A wooden hull creaks above, lantern light swaying. Then the net tightens—coarse ropes biting your scales. You thrash, but muffled voices circle closer. One shadow leans over the rail. "Well, well... what's this?"